WASHINGTON, D.C. — With populations of grassland birds continuing to decline and the nation’s cattle herd at its smallest size in more than 70 years, legislation introduced last week in the Senate would create a new U.S. Department of Agriculture program to support both agricultural producers and grassland restoration.
The Rebuilding America’s National Cow Herd (RANCH) Act, introduced by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), would provide voluntary technical and financial assistance to producers who choose to convert marginally productive cropland into native grasses and other perennial forage for livestock.
“Voluntary, incentive-based conservation programs are vital for reversing the concerning drop in grassland birds and supporting our nation’s agricultural producers,” said Marshall Johnson, Chief Conservation Officer at the National Audubon Society. “We thank Sens. Rounds and Klobuchar for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the RANCH Act, which demonstrates how conservation and agricultural production can go hand in hand. By helping farmers and ranchers restore native grasslands on marginal cropland, this legislation creates lasting benefits for birds, strengthens rural economies, improves soil and water resources, and supports the long-term success of working lands.”
The legislation builds on the model established by Audubon’s Conservation Forage Program in North Dakota, a voluntary cost-share initiative that helps producers convert marginal cropland into native grasses and forbs. With more than 150 producers enrolled in the pilot, the program has demonstrated that restoring working grasslands can improve the economic viability of agricultural operations while creating essential nesting and foraging habitat for birds and other wildlife.
The RANCH Act will help improve soil health, protect water quality, reduce erosion and nutrient loss, and restore habitat for birds and other wildlife, while creating new economic opportunities for farmers and ranchers. It represents an opportunity to strengthen the long-term resilience of ranching operations while restoring the grassland ecosystems that sustain declining grassland birds, which have seen some of the steepest population declines of any bird group in North America.
“I’m encouraged to see Congress listening to the voices of farmers and ranchers who work in grasslands every day. Strong grass-based agriculture depends on healthy, productive grasslands, and investments in voluntary grazing and conservation practices help keep ranching businesses profitable for the long term,” said Dan Rasmussen, who, with his wife, Dawn, stewards 33 Ranch near Belvidere, South Dakota. “Through our work with Audubon and other partners, we’ve seen firsthand that when we manage grasslands well, our cattle benefit, wildlife thrives, and water quality improves. That’s a win for ranchers, rural communities, and everyone who depends on these working lands.”
Audubon is pleased to work with Sens. Rounds and Klobuchar and other Congressional leaders, as well as farmers, ranchers, and conservation partners – including South Dakota Grasslands Initiative, National Wildlife Federation, and Pheasants Forever – to advance the RANCH Act and expand practical conservation solutions that benefit birds, people, and the landscapes they share.
The National Audubon Society is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. Audubon works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, nonpartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, Audubon drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With over 900 staff and more than 2.5 million supporters, Audubon is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook and Instagram @audubonsociety.
Media contact: Jeff Billington, jeff.billington@audubon.org
